The National Party is planning for a big shake up in schools.
It wants to prioritise the teaching of reading, writing, maths and science , saying those are the essential subjects to set children for life.
Leader Chris Luxon says our standards on the world stage have fallen after we were previously in the top 10 globally.
He says the current situation can't continue.
"Last year for the first time we had 15 year olds, year 10s who took a basic maths, reading and writing test and two thirds of them failed. Essentially, we're delivering kids who are functionally illiterate and functionally innumerate as a result."
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